In a message dated 8/5/00 9:55:14 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< It just occurred to me when I was reading the posts on hospitals that ask
 their patients to bring in their  own formula and if they forget they then
 are left with the option of breastfeeding.  I think it would be only fair
 to then ask these moms to wash their own bottles, nipples, warm up the
 formula and feed their babies at night too.  Then the breastfeeding moms
 wouldn't look across the hall and see how fast it is for the bottlefeeding
 mom to feed her baby,who gets the baby brought to her with a bottle of
 ready made formula.  Just a little more of a reality enlightener about how
 much work bottlefeeding really is and how much easier breastfeeding is.
  >>
Barb,
I like how you think!  What a great idea!  Since it is very important for
bottle-feeding moms to know how to correctly prepare formula - this would be
the ideal time, place, situation etc to do the teaching!  The hospital I work
at pt time is heading toward couplet care, and so adding this to the things
everyone wants to complain about seems perfect!  Realistically, it is not a
bad idea.  Most moms can't afford ready-to-feed and the potential to mix
innaccurately is just glossed over in the teaching.  Many of the moms we
serve could've used those extra 8 - 10 IQ points they were deprived of - but
having to participate in the preparation etc of their baby's AIM seems like a
sound solution to all those problems.  Moms wouldn't think formula was so
easy. They'd learn how to prepare it accurately.  The nurses would learn that
formula wasn't so easy after dealing with crabby moms in the middle of the
nights with their hungry crying babies.  The education would be complete.
Some might even opt for the ease of plugging in their baby at breast after
enviously watching their breastfeeding roomates effortlessly nursing their
child and dozing back to sleep...
Such a great fantasy!  Think I'll run it up the flag pole anyhow...It's World
Breastfeeding Week - why not?!

Gretchen Andrews, BA, IBCLC
The Lactation Connection
private practice, So. Calif, USA

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